| CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT…MONTHLY QUOTES & IDEAS …UNDERGRAD UNIONS…GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING…FACTS YOU CAN USE CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT Simmons College Simmons DM has long been known for its great collaboration with other campus clubs. This fall it was at a Barbie-themed campus event. Students were registered to vote, shared reasons for why they vote, and participated in a DM-led discussion of feminism and capitalism protrayed in the Barbie movie. Check out other fantastic campus DM actions: https://www.democracymatters.org/action-campaigns UNDERGRAD LABOR UNIONS The NY Times reports “a swell of labor organizing among undergraduate students across the country.” Last week Penn RAs voted to unionize, joining similar wins by Columbia, Barnard, Wesleyan and a student strike at Tufts. Penn RAs called for more benefits for undergraduate workers, stipends, scheduling policies, and protections against arbitrary firings. “We are organizing for fair compensation, better communication and a more democratic workplace” said one organizer. More union votes – affecting undergrad library and dining workers – are pending at Harvard and the University of Oregon and more… https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/28/us/university-of-pennsylvania-resident-advisers-union.html GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING This month Mandle faults progressives for neglecting the face-to-face grassroots activism that propels successful social movements, including the recent wins for undergraduate unions. He argues that passing the Congressional “Freedom To Vote Act” requires all of us to take action today to fix our broken democracy. Read the full article at: https://www.democracymatters.org/money_on_my_mind/4733 FACTS YOU CAN USE – Suppressing Students’ Votes The really bad news is that active efforts to suppress the student vote are increasing nationwide. Republican-controlled state legislatures in Idaho, Texas, Ohio, South Carolina and others have erected new barriers. By denying the use of student IDs to register to vote or cast ballots, students are being robbed of their fundamental right to vote. Voter suppression also involves prohibiting or discouraging polling places on college campuses. Over half of college students have no voting option on their own campuses on election day. This is even more the case at 2-year community colleges compared to 4-year institutions, and at predominately white compared to non-white colleges. In Texas, legislators have even proposed eliminating all polling stations on college campuses. The really good news is that New York State legislators have now mandated polling stationson any campus with 300 + students in residence. DM students in NY are working on getting more students able to vote! “The legislation – New York Bill A454/S4658 – is critical, because it will stop practices designed to suppress student voting, including situating polling in locations that are difficult to access and dividing campuses into multiple districts,” said Jonathan Becker, VP Bard College. New York students interested in having a polling station on their campus should contact joanm@democracymatters.org |